McGuinness begins Sri Lankan Meetings
Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness was today beginning a series of meeting in Sri Lanka. Mr McGuinnes has travelled to the country at the request of respected Sri Lankan peace group, the Institute for Political and Conflict Transformation (Inpact).
Speaking today from the capital Colombo before meeting with both the Sri
Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and Tamil rebel leaders over the next
number of days Mr McGuinness said:
“Sri Lanka has been caught
in the grip of a bitter conflict since 1983 and almost 70,000 people have
been killed. In recent weeks a number of worrying incidents have put
immense strain on the developing peace process.
“Last year I met the Sri Lankan president when he visited Ireland to study the Irish peace process. I was subsequently approached by a respected peace organisation to travel to Sri Lanka to share my experience and encourage the two sides not to allow this ceasefire to break down completely.
“My message to all parties will be simple – that accommodation can only
come through dialogue, that’s been the lesson of the Irish peace process.
There can be no military solution to these types of political problems. I
look forward over the next few days to try and assist in the development
of this conflict resolution process in whatever way I can.” ENDS